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REV Ocean is a totally unique, state of the art research and expedition vessel. It is equipped with some of the most sophisticated facilities onboard for carrying out cutting edge ocean science.  

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• These Superyachts Lead a Double Life as Floating Labs for Ocean Research

Luxury sailing vessels like Seahawk are hosting scientists in remote areas—and seeing new marine sanctuaries resulting from their efforts.

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Dead tuna heads aren’t quite the fine-dining ingredients typically found in a superyacht galley, but during its South Pacific cruise last year, Seahawk had three freezer chests full of them.

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The trend of yachts being loaned out to scientists is becoming more common these days as owners make good on promises of promoting sustainability via their vessels. Cruise lines Viking and Ponant have also jumped into the research game, creating luxury expedition vessels with labs that are now integral to their cruise protocols.

This trend is extending to owners designing superyachts that are hybrid research vessels. When Norwegian shipping magnate Kjell Inge Røkke’s REV Ocean launches in 2026 (the current estimated date of delivery), the 600-foot expedition yacht is expected be crowned the world’s largest superyacht. But it will be much more than that. Fully equipped with multiple labs for different disciplines, as well as advanced scientific equipment, the vessel will toggle between three modes: charter, research and expedition.

Other hybrids are already in the water. After a two-year rebuild at Damen that included the addition of research labs as well as a media center designed by film director James Cameron, OceanXplorer left on her maiden voyage in November 2020 to study the secrets of the Red Sea. The 285-foot vessel is the flagship of OceanX , an ocean exploration initiative founded by American businessmen Ray Dalio and his son, Mark.

Then there are owners like one Europe-based entrepreneur, who has designed a new 170-foot explorer yacht, for personal enjoyment and scientific research. As the summer launch date approaches, the owner is in talks with Yachts for Science , a program that connects scientists, researchers and content creators with yacht owners and crew for possible collaborations. The boat will be offered up free of charge for scientific missions. 

Asking not to be named, the owner’s vision, from the first sketches, was to design an ice-class vessel that combines comfort and practicality. Teak decking, for instance, is out. Dry labs, workshops, a diving compressor and special freezing capabilities are in.

Onboard will be two 29.5-foot tenders specifically made for exploration, as well as four cranes, each of which can lift up to four tonnes. The boat also has the potential to bring two containers of research equipment on the rear deck. 

For Seahawk’s American owners, their 170-foot sailing yacht has been a way to travel the world while leaving a legacy of good behind. Since departing the Mediterranean in 2020, the yacht has hosted scientists studying migratory patterns of pelagic species such as sharks and mantas in the Galapagos and Mexico. They have also helped survey coral reefs in Fiji’s Lau Islands, along with driving multiple charitable initiatives.

Seahawk’s rotational captain, Stephen Edwards, acknowledges that the type of equipment scientists bring with them doesn’t always match with the “superyacht perfection” stereotype.

But the tradeoff is the kind of work very few yacht owners and crew will ever experience. “We have video footage of our bosun holding the mouth of a tiger shark while somebody’s doing surgery on the other end,” says Edwards. “For the crew, this type of voyage is unique. They’re not going to see this in any other way.” 

There is also the reward that comes from knowing their efforts have made a difference. One of Seahawk ’s first missions was to find evidence of a shark swim-way between the Cocos Islands National Park in Costa Rica and the Galapagos Islands.

“The hypothesis is that these areas have always been linked together, but it was a matter for science groups to prove this in order to get governments to stop large fishing boats from parking themselves in the middle of this highway and just grabbing everything that swam past,” Edwards says.

Seahawk’s owner provided a platform for an expedition led by MigraMar, a leading authority in migratory species. “We got into it at a good time, thanks to our tagging work,” says Edwards. “It really put facts behind the hypothesis.” Subsequently, at the UN Climate Change Conference in late 2021, a new 24,000-square-mile marine reserve was defined by Ecuador to safeguard migratory species.

Considering that these voyages have coincided with travels Seahawk ‘s owner had already planned, itineraries that combine yachts and science seem to be a win-win for everyone involved. “These missions benefit the crew, science and the environment,” says Edwards. “The concept is also very much part of the owner’s vernacular. He actually calls it his mission.”

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Schmidt Ocean Institute Launches New Research Vessel That Will Change the Face of Ocean Exploration

SCHMIDT OCEAN INSTITUTE LAUNCHES NEW RESEARCH VESSEL THAT WILL CHANGE THE FACE OF OCEAN EXPLORATION

Founders Eric and Wendy Schmidt launch R/V Falkor (too), with an inaugural expedition, expanding capacity, capability, and science for ocean research and technology development globally.

San Juan, Puerto Rico – Schmidt Ocean Institute launched today its newly refitted 110-meter global-class research vessel for use by scientists worldwide to dramatically advance marine science and push the frontiers of deep sea expedition.

Funded by Schmidt Ocean Institute founders Eric and Wendy Schmidt, the research ship, Falkor (too) , will embark on a series of expeditions and be available to scientists and technologists globally at no cost in exchange for making their research and discoveries publicly available. The ship replaces Schmidt Ocean Institute’s previous research vessel, which was in service for a decade and hosted more than 1,100 scientists, discovered over 50 new marine species and underwater formations and mapped over half a million square miles of the seafloor.

An impressive seven-deck vessel, Falkor (too) will offer scientists a modular platform to conduct almost any research at sea, with a 105-square-meter main laboratory in addition to seven other at-sea laboratories. The ship also features a 150-ton crane, two moonpools, equipment for high-resolution ocean depth mapping–which will contribute to a global effort to map the entire ocean floor by 2030–a microplastic water flow-through system, and 900-square meters of aft deck space for interdisciplinary ocean research and exploration.

“The ocean has always needed a moonshot,” said Eric Schmidt, co-founder of Schmidt Ocean Institute. “ Falkor (too) embodies that ambition, bringing together breakthrough technology and the global marine science community to explore the furthest reaches of our world. This is a very big moment for us, for the oceans and for the future of science.”

The ship refit was performed at Freire Shipyard in Vigo, Spain, with sea trials taking place off Puerto Rico. In addition to the scientific and technical capabilities, the vessel is also outfitted with 98 berths, allowing for even more participation in expeditions by scientists, technologists, students, media, artists, and community leaders.

With a purpose of boldly exploring the unknown ocean, Schmidt Ocean Institute focuses on global scientific understanding of the ocean while recognizing the importance of addressing international inclusivity. Schmidt Ocean has released its target geography for expeditions over the next decade , with each year dedicated to a specific region of the ocean.

“This global state-of-the-art research vessel will build upon Schmidt Ocean Institute’s legacy of supporting the research that has led to numerous discoveries of marine species and sea floor features,” said Jyotika Virmani, executive director of Schmidt Ocean Institute . “After 17 months undergoing an extensive scientific refit, this ship has been transformed into a magnificent asset for ocean exploration, and we are eagerly looking forward to a new era of marine science and discovery.”

Schmidt Ocean Institute, founded in 2009 by Eric and Wendy Schmidt, began its exploration of the seas with R/V Lone Ranger , the precursor to R/V Falkor . The model of offering a state-of-the-art research vessel at no cost to scientists was revolutionary in marine science philanthropy when Falkor launched in 2013, and Schmidt Ocean spent the last decade building an extensive portfolio of discoveries and scientific accomplishments in collaboration with the global scientific community. 

In 2021, Schmidt Ocean acquired the M/V Polar Queen and began its metamorphosis from an offshore industry vessel to a scientific research vessel. Built in 2011 Falkor (too) is 30 meters longer and 30 years younger than the original Falkor, which was donated last March to Italy’s National Research Council (Consiglio Nazionale delle Richerche).

Images and video regarding R/V Falkor (too) can be found here.

About Schmidt Ocean Institute Schmidt Ocean Institute was established in 2009 by philanthropists Eric and Wendy Schmidt to catalyze the discoveries needed to understand our ocean, sustain life, and ensure the health of our planet. Schmidt Ocean Institute pursues impactful scientific research and intelligent observation, technological advancement, open sharing of information, and public engagement at the highest levels of international excellence. For more information, visit www.schmidtocean.org .

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The research vessel (R/V)  Atlantis  is owned by the U.S. Navy and operated by WHOI for the oceanographic community. It is one of the most sophisticated research vessels afloat, and it is specifically outfitted for launching and servicing the  Alvin  human occupied submersible.

Delivered to Woods Hole in April 1997, Atlantis was built with six science labs and storage spaces, precision navigation systems, seafloor mapping sonar, and satellite communications. The ship’s three winches, three cranes, machine shop, and specialized hangars were specifically designed to support  Alvin  and other vehicles of the National Deep Submergence Facility.

The ship carries a complement of 36 crew members, science technicians, deep submergence group members, as well as a scientific party of 24 men and women for as long as 60 days. Because  Atlantis  is constantly going where  Alvin  is needed for exploration, the ship operates in all of the world’s oceans and is rarely seen in Woods Hole. In recent years, the ship and sub have spent most of their time exploring underwater volcanoes and hydrothermal vents in the Pacific Ocean.

Atlantis  is part of a class of similar Navy-owned research vessels designed and built by Halter Marine of Pascagoula, Mississippi. Her sister ships are R/V  Thomas G. Thompson , operated by the University of Washington, and R/V  Roger Revelle , operated by the Scripps Institution of Oceanography.  Atlantis  is the only vessel designed to support both  Alvin  and general oceanographic research.

Atlantis  is the namesake of WHOI’s first research vessel, a 142-foot, steel-hulled, ketch-rigged ship that sailed 299 cruises and more than 700,000 miles for ocean science from 1931 to 1966. The Institution’s flagship and symbol was the first American ship built specifically for research in marine biology, marine geology, and physical oceanography. The space shuttle Atlantis was named for the original WHOI research vessel.

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How to turn your superyacht into a scientific research vessel

Want to support ocean conservation and help scientists understand our oceans? Oliver Steeds, CEO of Nekton, outlines the changes you can make to your boat today to turn it from a superyacht to a marine science research vessel... 

“Citizens of the world…. We are running out of excuses to not take action and running out of time… The time to act is now”. April 2019. President Danny Faure of Seychelles was hundreds of feet below the ocean’s surface in a two-person research submersible on Nekton’s First Descent mission broadcasting live to the world. It was the first subsea presidential address and became the biggest news story of the day globally.

Whilst this submersible was launched off a research vessel, the same Triton submersibles and larger models are being launched off more and more yachts. For scientists, conservationists and ocean explorers, yachts – and sometimes these submersibles – are often the gatekeepers of the ocean. Few have the pass to enter.

The ocean remains the least-explored part of our planet. It is our last great frontier. We know the largest waterfall on Earth is underwater along with the largest mountain range and the majority of volcanic activity.

We know there are over 100,000 seamounts, or undersea mountains, greater than 1,000 metres and that only a handful have ever been visited, let alone biologically sampled. And whilst the average depth of the ocean is over 4,000 metres, the majority of life below 200 metres glows. Over 90 per cent of biodiversity, 3.7 billion years of our evolutionary heritage, remains to be discovered.

The ocean is our planet’s life support system. It regulates our climate, provides food security for billions and essential medicines including the first diagnostic tests and treatment for Covid-19. The ocean produces over half of our oxygen, captures most of our anthropogenic heat and is the largest carbon store on our planet.

But rather than supporting life on Earth, the ocean itself may soon need to be put on life support. It remains the least-protected part of our planet, and only 2.5 per cent of the ocean is currently highly protected. Increasingly, scientists, climate change experts and governments are calling for 30 per cent protection by 2030. There’s much work to be done.

Sadly, too many still have their heads buried in the sand. But marine scientists are pushing back the boundaries of knowledge, which is crucial because we can’t protect what we don’t know.

“With endurance to operate in coastal or remote locations, diving capability, tenders, small cranes and accommodation, the private yacht fleet can provide access to the sea to enable and empower marine scientists to work on the frontlines of our changing planet,” explains Mike Pownall, Nekton’s head of marine operations and a veteran of planning, implementing and leading complex offshore and subsea operations.

With a bit of deck space, autonomous underwater vehicles, small “suitcase ROVs” (remotely operated vehicles), drop cameras or baited cameras, sensors, hydrophones and buoys, even water collection systems can all be readily deployed and recovered. Add a slightly larger crane and you can deploy submersibles, and even a larger ROV if the vessel can hold station.

Research teams vary in size, from one up to a dozen or more depending on the goal. Without too much bother, critical research can be undertaken on ocean transits, whilst wildlife and surface observations, coral reef research or a vast range of physical, chemical and biological research activities can all be achieved at most locations visited by yachts.

With more available deck space, a modular or containerised system can be considered to house diving systems, submersible operations or even a laboratory.

Utilising a larger tender or the main yacht – with a hull mounted or “over the side” pole mount multibeam echosounder – owners can map the uncharted depths and discover new subsea mountains, trenches, ridges and features and even name them in perpetuity. Yachts can also be the stewards or sentinels of the sea. With meteorological logging equipment, yachts can provide vital data to inform weather and climate science.

“From the design phase up, yachts often have extraordinary capabilities built in that can have dual use for owners and scientists,” explained Andrew Winch , a leading yacht designer. “From power systems to isolated air conditioning in specific rooms through to, more obviously, the tenders and diving equipment, if you can be flexible and adaptable, the opportunities are endless.”

In simple terms, it is all relatively straightforward. There are thousands of marine scientists who have vital research that needs to be undertaken at sea. All it takes is the willingness from yacht owners to invite scientists onto their vessels. Yachts for Science has been set up to be the match-makers – a partnership between the marine research institute Nekton and BOAT International , Arksen and the Ocean Family Foundation. 

We can all do our bit. Will you?

To help, here’s an introductory guide to the yacht requirements for a range of different research activities along with what more can be done with a few additions or discreet tweaks.

Internal workspace

Scientists will need some sort of workspace, the size of which will vary depending on their research activities. Some simple aspects could be considered:

• A dry lab with work surfaces for equipment
• Computational infrastructure: networking for laptops, capability to receive GPS and Gyro feeds from the bridge, additional monitors for survey and video analysis
• Storage for equipment and, if samples are being collected, then a standard refrigerator (four degrees) and freezer (minus 20 degrees) and a smaller specialist minus-80-degree freezer are all helpful

External workspace

A number of aspects can easily make deck space functional to allow “plug and play” adaptability for scientists, including:

• Deck power – multiple ports in operational areas
• Fresh and saltwater connections
• Deck space (variability determines size of research equipment that can be deployed)
• “Wet Lab” – if sample collection is required (could also be an internal area with direct access to the deck)

For near shore or coastal operations, a yacht or tender can act as a dive-support base with supply from shore of equipment or divers. Expect scientists to bring their own personal dive gear. To operate further afield, diving capability could include:

• Equipment: Compressor, tanks, repair kits, spare kits, weight, buoys, freshwater basins to rinse equipment, drying/storage area
• Safety: Oxygen kits, diving-specific first aid
• For technical (TEC) diving, below 30 metres: specialist compressors, Nitrox and Trimix makers, recompression chamber and other equipment will be required. On the plus side, technical divers usually bring their own equipment

Submersible operations

Increasing numbers of large yachts have submersibles, and different models from Triton, U-Boat Worx or Seamagine could all be considered. Cranes and support equipment vary for different types of submersibles and depend on sizes ranging from 2.5 tonnes (two persons, 100 metres), 4 to 5 tonnes (three persons, 500 metres), 8 tonnes+ (three to seven persons+, depths from 300 to 1,000 metres). Key functionality to support submersible operations include:

• Workbench, tools, HP oxygen bottles, storage (spares etc.), high-pressure air compressor, battery charging, tracking and underwater communications systems and a retractable awning to cover the submersible (equipment provided by sub supplier)

Cranes and winches

For the deployment of oceanographic equipment, deck space, crane and electric winch capability – often in combination with RIBs and tenders – define what is possible and can enable the utilisation of:

• Towed nets (hand deployed/recovered)
• Baited remote underwater video (BRUV) and/or baited drop cameras
• Remotely operated vehicles
• AUV’s (autonomous underwater vehicle), ASVs (autonomous surface vehicle), gliders
• Small “metocean” (meteorological and physical oceanography) monitoring equipment for short or long-term deployments – such as weather buoys, tide gauges or current monitoring devices
• CTD (with hydrographic deck winch) for water chemistry research

Increasing specifications

A-Frames, hydrographic winches, hydraulic deck cranes, dynamic positioning, hull mounting of specific equipment, removable sacrificial deck frames and worktops all increase the scale of research operations and activities

For more information, contact [email protected]

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Observation Platforms: Vessels

Vessels are arguably the most critical element in any ocean-going venture. Once a ship leaves the safety of its dock, it is an island unto itself on the open seas, its crew at the mercy of the waves. Any ship, from a 15-foot sailboat to a 1,500-foot tanker, must carry all of the food, water, fuel, and equipment that its crew will need to live safely for the duration of the journey.

In the case of research vessels, such as those highlighted here, the ships must also be equipped with special tools and technology that allow scientists to explore ocean environments. Research vessels are highly advanced mobile research stations, providing stable platforms from which explorers can deploy equipment, divers, and submersibles. In addition, these vessels carry state-of- the-art electronics, computers, and navigational and communications systems.

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Matching private vessels with marine research

The goal of Yachts For Science is to bring together yacht owners and crew with marine scientists, researchers and content creators and provide access to the oceans. This is achieved by utilising the thousands of yachts that are travelling the globe as platforms for research.

Yacht owners and crew - the oceans need you!

The world’s oceans make up the largest ecosystem on Earth. They cover almost three-quarters of the Earth’s surface and produce half of the oxygen we breathe. Oceans regulate climate and their chemistry is vital for planetary health.

Even so, it is estimated that less than 10% of marine life has been discovered and only a fraction of the ocean floor has been mapped. This means that there is no scientific baseline for monitoring the health of the oceans which are so critical for the future of humanity.

The fundamental reason for the lack of oceanic knowledge is the difficulties that marine scientists face in gaining access to the oceans to undertake research. Traditional research vessels are often large and expensive to run, unavailable or in a different location. This is where Yachts For Science can play a part.

The goal of Yachts For Science is to bring together yacht owners and crew with marine scientists, researchers and content creators and provide access to the oceans.

This is achieved by utilising the thousands of yachts that are travelling the globe as platforms for research. These partnerships will provide the vital information required for decision-makers to bring about the protection and recovery of our oceans.

If you own, manage, or are crew aboard a vessel that could provide berths for scientists get in touch now.

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China’s research ship in eastern PH using unidentified equipment

WHY IS IT HERE? The Chinese- flagged Shen Kuo is seen in the waters northeast of Viga, Catanduanes province, in this photo taken from a Philippine Air Force (PAF) plane. PHOTO FROM TOWSOL, PAF

MANILA, Philippines — The research vessel seen in the eastern section in the country was also spotted deploying unidentified equipment, according to the Philippine Navy.

Commodore Roy Vincent Trinidad, Navy spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea, said the laying out of the equipment was done around 100 miles east of Catanduanes.

“Their erratic behavior or their erratic track is indicative of conducting studies or possibly maritime research for whatever reason,” Trinidad said in a regular AFP press briefing.

Trinidad continued: “The Philippine Air Force on a maritime surveillance flight was able to get a picture of the ship lowering an unidentified equipment probably for scientific research or studies. We are still trying to identify the particular type of equipment that was monitored.”

The official said they are in close coordination with the Philippine Coast Guard, which is still looking for a favorable weather condition to send a vessel there.

READ: AFP: Chinese ship seen near Catanduanes possibly on survey mission

Send a ship

“We’re in close coordination with the Philippine Coast Guard to be able to send a ship to respond. The coast guard is looking for the most favorable time before it could send out a ship,” Trinidad said.

Over the weekend, the AFP reported that the vessel was spotted off  Viga town in Catanduanes on Saturday.

Chester Cabalza, president and founder of the Manila-based think tank International Development and Security Cooperation, said the ship’s presence there may either be a diversionary  tactic in view of the ongoing war games between Manila and Washington.

Cabalza also added that the activity could also be viewed as “a military mission disguised in scientific research.”

For this year alone, this is the second time a Chinese research vessel was spotted in the country’s eastern section of the country where Philippine (Benham) Rise—a 24-million-hectare undersea feature part of the Philippine continental shelf and is inside the country’s exclusive economic zone—were spotted.

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Unauthorized presence of Chinese research ship seen off Catanduanes

M ANILA, Philippines – An “unauthorized presence” of a Chinese-flagged research vessel was detected within the vicinity northeast of Viga, Catanduanes, on Saturday, according to the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).

In a statement on Sunday, AFP said the vessel “Shen Kuo” was first spotted on April 25, about 60.9 nautical miles east off Rapu-Rapu Island, Albay.

“Per latest reports from Tactical Operations Wing, Southern Luzon (TOWSOL), who conducted maritime patrol (MARPAT) on April 27, it was observed that the vessel was lying in the area and had no personnel on the main deck,” AFP revealed.

“Several attempts to contact the vessel through regular radio channels were unsuccessful, indicating a lack of responsiveness or willingness to engage,” it added.

In line with this, the AFP said it was continuously monitoring the unauthorized research vessel within the country’s maritime domain and asked the nearby vessels “for enhanced surveillance and reporting.”

AFP likewise coordinated with relevant agencies to investigate any illegal activities within the area and to ensure the security and protection of the country’s waters.

Aside from the research vessel, AFP Western Command spokesperson, a Chinese Navy ship — People’s Liberation Army Navy (Plan) vessel number 578, was spotted near US and PH ships conducting Balikatan exercises “somewhere in San Vicente, Palawan” on Sunday morning.

The Chinese ship’s presence was monitored a day after Plan vessel No. 793 was spotted “in the vicinity of Balikatan ships” conducting multilateral maritime exercises on Saturday.

But Coloma revealed that this vessel was no longer visible near the Balikatan ships.

Despite these, the AFP official said that they are “in control of the situation,” and the presence of Chinese Navy ships has not interrupted their exercises.

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Chinese research ship in east PH dropped equipment in Catanduanes

The Chinese research vessel recently spotted in the east of the Philippines was showing erratic behavior and was caught lowering an equipment near Catanduanes, the Philippine Navy said Tuesday.

“Their erratic behavior or their erratic track is indicative of conducting studies or possibly maritime research for whatever reason,” Navy spokesperson for the WPS Commodore Roy Vincent Trinidad said in a press conference.

“The Philippine Air Force on a maritime surveillance flight was able to get a picture of the ship lowering an unidentified equipment probably for scientific research or studies,” he added.

Trinidad said the Philippine Navy is still trying to identify the particular type of equipment the Chinese research vessel, Shen Kuo, used 100 miles east of Catanduanes.

As of the latest monitoring, Trinidad said Shen Kuo was spotted 30 nautical miles east of Samar.

These concerned waters are facing the Philippine Sea.

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) is planning to intercept the loitering Chinese research vessel by sending a ship to its location, Trinidad said.

The Navy tried to send a ship but it was canceled due to bad sea conditions, he added.

“We’re in close coordination with the PCG to be able to send a ship to respond. Naval Force West to send one but the ship had to turn back because of unfavorable sea conditions. The Coast Guard is looking for the most favorable time before it could send out a ship,” Trinidad said.

On Sunday, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said the vessel Shen Kuo was first sighted on Thursday at 60.9 nautical miles east off Rapu-Rapu Island in Albay.

It was found to be lying-to in the area and had no personnel on the main deck, based on reports from the maritime patrol of the Tactical Operations Wing Southern Luzon on Saturday.

“Several attempts to contact the vessel through regular channels were unsuccessful, indicating a lack of responsiveness or willingness to engage,” the AFP said.

According to the PCG, the vessel departed from Shenzhen Port on April 13 and passed through Itbayat and Basco Batanes on April 22.

The vessel then moved southward within 11 nautical miles off the coast of Mapanas, Northern Samar on April 25, before traveling north again until it reached the waters off Catanduanes where it was monitored by the AFP, according to Tarriela.

The “loitering” of the Chinese-flagged research vessel came as more Chinese ships were seen shadowing the Philippines, the United States, and France naval vessels during the Balikatan joint military exercise in the West Philippine Sea on Sunday.

Recently, three more Chinese research vessels were also monitored in Ayungin Shoal in the WPS for the first time since last year. —AOL, GMA Integrated News

Exclusive-China Harbors Ship Tied to North Korea-Russia Arms Transfers, Satellite Images Show

FILE PHOTO: A ship, identified by the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) as the North Korean registered cargo ship Angara, is seen docked alongside a larger vessel at the Zhoushan Xinya Shipbuilding Co wharf in Zhoushan, China February 11, 2024 in a satellite image. Planet Labs PBC/Handout via REUTERS/File Photo

By Michael Martina and David Brunnstrom

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - China is providing moorage for a U.S.-sanctioned Russian cargo ship implicated in North Korean arms transfers to Russia, according to satellite images obtained by Reuters, as U.S. concerns grow over Beijing's support for Moscow's war in Ukraine.

Britain's Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) think tank said the Russian vessel Angara, which since August 2023 has moved to Russian ports thousands of containers believed to contain North Korean munitions, has been anchored at a Chinese shipyard in eastern Zhejiang province since February.

The ship's presence at the Chinese port underscores the challenges facing the United States and its allies as they try to choke off military and economic support for Russia.

With Ukraine under a renewed Russian assault and running short of ammunition, U.S. officials have issued increasingly stark warnings about what they say is China's help rebuilding Russia's military after its early setbacks in the Ukraine war.

That support is expected to top the agenda this week as Secretary of State Antony Blinken visits Beijing.

Photos You Should See - April 2024

The State Department's second ranked diplomat, Kurt Campbell, said this month that Washington would not "sit by" if Beijing increased its backing for Moscow.

A spokesperson for the U.S. State Department said it was aware of "credible, open-source reports" that the Angara is currently moored in a Chinese port and had raised the issue with Chinese authorities. 

"We call on all member states to fulfill their obligations under UNSCR 2397," the official said, referring to a United Nations resolution restricting trade with North Korea and requiring U.N. states to de-register any vessels involved in illicit activities.

"When Secretary Blinken meets with his PRC counterparts this week, he will address a range of concerns, including Russia’s war against Ukraine and Russia-DPRK ties," the spokesperson said, referring to China and North Korea by the initials of their official names. 

Satellite images RUSI obtained in recent months from companies including San Francisco-based Earth imaging firm Planet Labs PBC showed the Angara docked at Zhoushan Xinya Shipyard in Zhejiang, which on its website says it is China's largest private ship repair company.

The ship was identified by its unique automatic identification system (AIS) transponder that had been briefly turned on, likely for safety reasons, while navigating a busy stretch of the Korea Strait en route to China.

RUSI said that before arriving in China on Feb. 9, seemingly for repairs or maintenance, the Angara had been docked in January at North Korean and Russian ports with its transponder turned off. It again stopped transmitting shortly after arriving in China.

AT LEAST 11 VOYAGES TO RUSSIA

The ship, sanctioned by the U.S. in May 2022, had conducted at least 11 deliveries between the North Korean port of Rajin and Russian ports from August 2023, according to RUSI, which has been tracking its movements as part of a project to use open source data to monitor North Korea's sanctions evasion networks.

China's embassy in Washington said it was not aware of the details related to the Angara, but that China "always opposes unilateral sanctions and long-arm jurisdiction that have no basis in international law or mandate from the Security Council."

China's foreign ministry also said it had no information about the matter.

The U.S. and dozens of other countries said earlier this year that the North Korean weapons transfers to Russia "flagrantly" violate multiple U.N. Security Council resolutions.

Joseph Byrne, a research fellow with RUSI, said China's government should know that the U.S.-sanctioned vessel was docked at its shipyard.

"If it lets (the Angara) sail out of port uninspected and newly repaired, then it shows China likely won't take any action on these Russian vessels," Byrne said.

Washington has repeatedly asked China not to aid Moscow's war effort since Russia's full scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, which came just weeks after Russia and China declared a "no limits partnership."

Blinken last week criticized Chinese support for Russia's defense industry, saying Beijing was currently the primary contributor to Moscow's war in Ukraine though its provision of critical components for weaponry.

Russia's foreign ministry, and Zhoushan Xinya Shipyard did not respond to requests for comment on the Angara.

The company's website says its clients come from around Asia, Europe and the U.S. and that it has "strategic cooperation" with global shipping companies, including Maersk and Taiwan's Evergreen Marine Corp, as well as partnerships with European technology companies.

Both Russia and North Korea have repeatedly dismissed criticism over the alleged weapons deliveries. Moscow says it will develop ties with whatever countries it wants and that its cooperation with Pyongyang does not contravene international agreements.

Campbell told an event in Washington on Monday that the growing Chinese and North Korean partnership with Russia was "antithetical" to U.S. security interests in Europe and the Indo-Pacific.

(Reporting by Michael Martina and David Brunnstrom; Additional reporting by Antoni Slodkowski, Guy Faulconbridge and the Beijing newsroom; Editing by Don Durfee and Daniel Wallis)

Copyright 2024 Thomson Reuters .

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PCG says Chinese vessel spotted near southern Luzon waters

THE PHILIPPINE Coast Guard (PCG) on Monday said a Chinese research vessel had passed though the country’s northernmost province of Batanes before lingering in the waters off southern Luzon.

The Chinese vessel Shen Kuo passed through Itbayat and Basco in Batanes before “loitering” in waters off Catanduanes province, PCG spokesman Jay Tristan Tarriela told reporters in a group message.

“It then proceeded southward, coming within 11 nautical miles of the coast of Mapanas, Northern Samar on April 25,” he said. “After that, it traveled north again until it reached the waters off Catanduanes, where it was monitored by the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).”

The Chinese Embassy in Manila did not immediately reply to a Viber message seeking comment.

Batanes is just a few kilometers away from Taiwan, a United States ally that China considers as a renegade province. The northernmost province is among the key sites of the US-Philippines military drills that started on April 24 and will end on May 8.

The Philippine military on Sunday said the Chinese vessel was spotted off Viga town in Catanduanes on Saturday.

It said Shen Kuo was spotted 60.9 nautical miles east of Rapu-Rapu Island in Albay on Thursday.

The vessel had no personnel on the main deck, it said, citing an April 29 patrol.

There were attempts to contact the vessel through regular radio channels, but it did not respond, according to the military.

“The AFP remains vigilant, monitoring any unauthorized research vessel in our maritime domain,” it said. “We have already tasked nearby vessels for enhanced surveillance and reporting.”

This was the second time a Chinese research vessel was seen loitering in the Philippines’ eastern section near Benham Rise, a 24-million-hectare underwater feature within the country’s continental shelf.

“The presence of the Chinese research vessels in the Luzon Strait down to the Philippine Rise in the East Sea can be construed as a scientific way of surveying the maritime domains of the Philippines, which is primarily located in the first island chain,” Chester B. Cabalza, founder of Manila-based International Development and Security Cooperation (IDSC), said in a Facebook Messenger chat.

“Research vessels are the safest way to legitimize espionage measures.”

Mr. Cabalza said the presence of the Chinese research vessel could also be linked to the Balikatan (shoulder-to-shoulder) drills between the Philippines and the US, noting that the activities, which are observed by more than a dozen countries, are also focused on Batanes and Ilocos coastlines.

Two Chinese People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) vessels were seen tailing Filipino, American and French warships taking part in a maritime exercise under this year’s Balikatan at about 9 a.m. on April 29, the state-run Philippine News Agency said, citing the military’s Western Command.

The warships were expected to hold gunnery exercises, cross-deck operations and photo exercises later in the day.

The Philippine military on Sunday said a Chinese Navy ship was spotted about 7 to 8 nautical miles from the US and Philippine vessels holding Balikatan exercises near northern Palawan. Another PLAN ship was spotted on Saturday.

The PCG, which is participating in the Balikatan drills for the first time, said the presence of Chinese Navy vessels would not prevent Manila and its allies “from carrying out these kinds of exercises.”

“China’s only intention is to make their presence known,” Mr. Tarriela told Radyo630. “They want to say that they are in the area. Definitely, we will not stop our drills because they are there.”

Meanwhile, Senator Francis N. Tolentino pushed a bill setting a fine of as much as P10 million against vessels that fail to help ships and people in distress within Philippine waters, citing the need to protect poor Filipino fishermen.

“What we are trying to do here is to merge international law with domestic legislation and I see this as a gap considering that we have fishermen going out there during the typhoon season and there is really a need to provide penalties for those who fail to render assistance,” he told a foreign relations committee hearing.

Under Senate Bill No. 1388, vessels that fail to help a person or another ship in distress will be fined P5 million to P10 million. 

At the same hearing, Senator Maria Imelda “Imee” R. Marcos cited the need to classify vessels liable for the penalties. — Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza and John Victor D. Ordoñez

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